May/June 2017
Power Ahead pilot
complete
On the
Keep your details
up to date
horizon
Cutting-edge battery trial is underway
The town of Carnarvon has made
Western Australian history by having the
power station supported with energy
provided by utility scale batteries which are
being commissioned for a cutting-edge trial
being run by Horizon Power.
The testing and commissioning process
for the two batteries, which will produce
up to two megawatts of power for an hour –
or less power for a longer period of time – is
taking place over a period of weeks with an
expectation the batteries will be fully
operational as part of the Mungullah
Power Station in May.
successfully kicked in to provide power
to the town.
A team that peaked at more than 20
employees from Lishen, Horizon Power,
GHD, Contract Power, Future Power and
Calibre have been undertaking a series
of tests with the most important in the
wee hours of the morning on 27 March.
It was then, when the battery was
connected to the power station, that
our team deliberately shut down one
of the gas generators and the battery
The two 1000 kilowatt batteries, supplied
by Chinese company Tianjin Lishen Battery
Joint-Stock Company Limited (Lishen), are
housed in two 40 foot containers and
will be used to store energy produced by
the station with the primary function of
providing spinning reserve support. Four
inverters that convert the DC battery power
into AC power to be supplied to the power
station are housed in a 20 foot container.
May/June 2017
Power Ahead, it’s a wrap!
Thank you to everyone who participated
in the Power Ahead research pilot!
More than 400 Port Hedland residents
and businesses participated in the pilot,
helping us test and develop a different
way of managing electricity usage and
bills – similar to a mobile phone plan.
We challenged participants to keep
their electricity use within their peak
allowance (set number of units per
hour), during the 2016/17 summer peak
between 1 pm and 8 pm, and offered
them a financial incentive to stay under
this allowance.
A total of 332 residents and 60 businesses
met this challenge head-on, earning
themselves bill credits between $100
and $3,200.
Most participants were able to make
changes to how and when they used
electricity and shift their electricity use
off-peak, reducing their peak electricity
use by over 20 per cent.
Horizon Power will develop and
present a new pricing product, based
on the research findings, to the State
Government to help inform policy
decisions about price reform.
The Power Ahead Team would like
to thank the pilot participants, the
community of Port Hedland and pilot
research supporters who worked
collaboratively with us throughout
the pilot.
Battery trial
(continued from front page)
At present, in order to ensure reliable
power supplies, Horizon Power has a spare
generator running in the event of a fault
with an operational generator or a big spike
in demand. For example, if we need three
generators to meet demand, we run four
generators. The extra generator is called
spinning reserve.
Horizon Power will use the battery instead
of spinning reserve which will result in a
reduction in fuel and lower maintenance
costs by hundreds of thousands of dollars
a year.
As well as testing spinning reserve, we will
test other operating modes over a period
of 12 months following commissioning,
including peak shifting and simulation of
hosting capacity. This work is expected to
give us more information about how we can
better support renewable energy installed
in Carnarvon with this additional energy
storage, however the battery installation will
not automatically result in more renewable
energy hosting capacity.
The Carnarvon Energy Storage Trial project
is one of several we are undertaking to
achieve our vision of increasing the uptake
of distributed energy on our microgrids.
Carnarvon is one of our 33 isolated systems or
microgrids which will be able to incorporate
higher levels of renewables once the
learnings from these trials are available.
Standalone power expansion
The iconic Fitzgerald National Park, west
of Hopetoun, will soon be powered by
renewable energy as Horizon Power
expands its standalone power systems (SPS)
to regional and remote customers across
Western Australia.
The park will receive a state-of-the-art SPS
consisting of 10 kilowatts of solar panels,
25 kilowatt hours of battery storage and
15 kVA of back-up diesel generation, which
will provide power to the rangers’ office
and workshop inside the park entrance.
Horizon Power led the way in WA with
this renewable technology solution when
it developed an emergency response for
Esperance customers impacted by the
2015 bushfires.
Horizon Power is now working with other
customers to remove poles and wires
where this will provide a more efficient
and cost-effective grid, including in the
north of our State.
While a traditional grid connection remains
critical for most customers over the coming
decades, it is becoming more viable to
replace poles and wires at the remote fringes
of our microgrids.
Horizon Power General Manager Consumer
Energy Mark Paterson said the new SPS will
replace four kilometres of powerline, some
of which crosses over the Culham Inlet at the
National Park, making it difficult to access for
maintenance purposes. It will also replace 21
power poles and 20 bays of powerline which
would have required replacement this year.
As has been widely reported, the South
Australian Government is considering utilityscale battery storage to provide additional
security to its network after state-wide
outages experienced there last summer.
The causes of the outages in South
Australia are complex though some of the
commentary has pointed to high levels of
renewable energy penetration as being part
of the problem. Horizon Power strongly
supports renewable energy and believes
when managed and integrated properly,
it provides more security.
Horizon Power ensures the penetration of
renewable energy in the towns we supply
does not pose reliability issues. This is
achieved by the careful management of
renewable energy and ensuring we don’t
incorporate too much too fast.
Horizon Power has enough base load
capacity in all of its towns to meet demand
at all times and will continue to trial new
technologies such as large batteries to reduce
operating costs and, in time, to increase the
amount of rooftop solar that can be installed
on microgrids.
May/June 2017
Stay safe around electrical assets
During the past 12 months, Horizon Power
recorded more than 70 incidents in
which a third party has damaged assets.
This includes vehicles driving into mini
pillars or underground cables damaged
through digging.
In a recent incident, copper earth wires
were stolen from 100 power poles in
Carnarvon. Local police apprehended the
thieves and the wires were returned.
To help educate the community about the
danger of electricity and safety around
electrical assets, Horizon Power recently
launched its Be Aware of Electricity campaign.
Gascoyne/Mid West Retail Manager Craig
Deetlefs said the campaign’s goal is to
promote key messages relating to electrical
safety at home and at work while using
heavy or oversized equipment.
“Any damage to electrical infrastructure
has the potential to cause electric shock
or electrocution,” Mr Deetlefs said, confirming
that all of the pole earths have been replaced
and there was no danger to the public.
Letting you know
about planned
power outages
We will soon be introducing electronic
notifications for planned power outages
and want to work with you to get your
updated contact details so we can ensure
you get the information you need.
We intend to send notifications directly
to your email or mobile phone, enabling
us to communicate with you in a more
efficient, effective and timely manner.
To receive electronic notifications simply
register online for My Account or contact
our customer call centre on 1800 267 926
to update your details.
If you would like further information,
contact your local Horizon Power office.
Police constables Proctor and Hazel with the wire they recovered for Horizon Power.
We’re committed to
keeping you connected
Extended Outage Payment
Scheme
$80 if your power supply is interrupted
continuously for more than 12 hours from the time
it is reported to Horizon Power on 13 23 51
As your local energy partner, Horizon Power
is committed to providing you with a safe
and reliable power supply.
Failure to provide adequate
notification of a planned
power interruption
$20 if we’ve provided you less than three days’ notice
of a planned outage (via letter, SMS, notification
card, phone call, newspaper or radio advertising)
If for any reason your power supply is
interrupted, and the interruption is caused
by us, you may be able to make a claim for
compensation.
Disconnection in error
Priority reconnection and $100 credit to your Horizon
Power account for each day you are disconnected
The payments you may be entitled to receive
are listed here or jump online for more
information at www.horizonpower.com.
au/for-home/existing-customers/makea-claim/
If you require further information please
contact us on 1800 267 926 (residential)
or 1800 737 036 (business).
Reconnection outside of
timeframe specified in the
Customer Charter
$60 credit to your Horizon Power account for each
day the reconnection is late (maximum of $300)
Claim for loss or damage to
property and belongings
Each claim is assessed individually
Failure to acknowledge a
query or complaint
One off $20 if we fail to acknowledge a complaint
within 10 business days or respond within 20
business days to a query or complaint.
May/June 2017
In the community
Shooting Stars!
Horizon Power is proud to announce a three
year community partnership with Shooting
Stars under our Sustainable Partnership
Program.
West Kimberley
West Pilbara
Karratha Little Athletics
We are proud to continue to be the main
sponsor of Karratha Little Athletics for the
2017 season. There are 138 competitors
between the ages of six to 17, who train in
various events to compete against their
own personal best scores. Training and
competitions are held on Friday nights
starting May 12, where parents come down
to cheer on the athletes and everyone enjoys
a sausage sizzle. Registrations are closed for
the year, however for more information and
to register for 2018, please email
[email protected] or visit
the WA Little Athletics Facebook page.
Brand and Communications Manager,
Andrew Riches, said Horizon Power was
committed to developing the regions it
serviced and an investment in people and
the community
Gascoyne Mid West
2017 Denham Open
24–25 June
Held at the Boolbardie Country Club, the
2017 Denham Open Golf weekend is a 36
hole stableford event for men and women.
This has proven to be a well-supported
and fun weekend for the past 50 years and
continues to draw a good field of golfers
who enjoy the game and the great
hospitality. Non-golfers are welcome to
join us for the Saturday night dinner and
presentation lunch on Sunday.
Contact Jill Deschamp for further
information on 9948 3224 or email
[email protected]
Horizon Power is proud to support the Town
of Port Hedland in hosting the regional event
for the 8th year running.
To register, or for more information, please
visit www.porthedland.wa.gov.au
Contact us
“Our support will enable Shooting Stars to
roll out a new organisational development
strategy across the Halls Creek, Derby,
Carnarvon, Wiluna and Meekatharra
sites. The investment will also support the
continued development and implementation
of Shooting Star’s world first longitudinal
study, adopting an Indigenous research
method called Yarning Circles,” Mr Riches said.
Shooting Stars Executive Officer Fran Haintz
praised Horizon Power for its pledge to the
program, adding: “It’s so encouraging to see
Horizon Power recognise an opportunity
of this nature to contribute to a framework
that is empowering young indigenous
women in the regional communities of
Western Australia.”
East Pilbara
Mother’s Day Classic Walk and Run
14 May
The Mother’s Day Classic is a national fun run
and walk that raises funds for breast cancer
research, held annually on Mother’s Day.
Shooting Stars aims to use netball as the
vehicle to encourage greater engagement
and attendance at school of young Aboriginal
girls living in WA’s remote communities and
regional towns. Its successful pilot program
was delivered in Halls Creek in 2015 and it
has now expanded to Derby, Carnarvon,
Meekatharra and Wiluna.
Shark Bay Fishing Fiesta
12–19 May
An annual week-long festival held on the
Denham Foreshore which encourages
community participation, wellbeing and
educates and promotes responsible fishing
for the future. The event incorporates
activities for all ages such as kid’s day,
games and crafts, fishing competitions,
nightly entertainment, auctions, fireworks,
quiz nights, high teas and so much more.
Contact the Shark Bay Fishing Club for more
information on 0427 272 560.
To learn more about the Shooting Stars
program, including information about
making philanthropic and charitable
donations, visit www.shootingstars.com.au
Account and general enquiries
Regional offices
Residential account enquiries
1800 267 926
Business account enquiries
1800 737 036
Emergency or supply interruptions
13 23 51
Faulty streetlights and poles
1800 264 914
TTY
1800 461 499
Interpreter service
13 14 50
You can visit or contact one of Horizon Power’s regional offices.
[email protected]
www.horizonpower.com.au
Broome
Lot 1050 McDaniel Road
BROOME WA 6725
Ph: (08) 9192 9900
Gascoyne and Mid West
Corner Iles Road & Robinson Street
CARNARVON WA 6701
Ph: (08) 9941 6299
Kununurra
Lot 228 Messmate Way
KUNUNURRA WA 6743
Ph: (08) 9166 4700
Esperance
143 Sims Street
ESPERANCE WA 6450
Ph: (08) 9072 3400
Karratha
Stovehill Road
KARRATHA WA 6714
Ph: (08) 9159 7250
Port Hedland
18 Anderson Street
PORT HEDLAND WA 6721
Ph: (08) 9173 8281
Find us on
This document is available in alternative formats on request.
HP_3_17777
Kyle Andrews Cable Beach Walk
14 May
Horizon Power will again join with families
connected to the children’s ward of Princess
Margaret Hospital at the beautiful Cable
Beach. Now in its 14th year, the event is a
community walk from Gantheaume Point to
the Broome Surf Life Saving Club involving
families, prams, dogs, camels and lots of
enjoyment following the camp in Broome.